Two Year Funding – Why I’m Not Sending My 2 Year Old To Nursery

Two Year Funding -What Is It?

Two year funding allows children to start nursery a year earlier. This scheme is offered in most deprived area’s and Thurrock is one of them. It’s run to help children learn & socialise a little bit earlier and to give parents a chance to get back to work etc. We have been offered each term a chance to enrol Izzy at a nursery since she turned 2.

I had previously considered taking up the offer but I sat and thought about it. Could I use the time to myself? Yes. Do I thijnk it would benefit Izzy? No. Eventually I decided not to take up the offer and to wait until September when she will be 3.

Why?

I can’t justify sending Izzy to nursery early just because I’m able to. Whilst it is a great scheme especially for parents looking to get back into work or to save a few £’s on childcare or even to get toddlers playing with other’s their own age, I’d rather spend this year helping Izzy develop at home. Although I doubt myself constantly as a mother, I know my girls are learning plenty at home. Children spend so many years in school already & I can’t see why I should add another year to that. Especially whilst I am home all day.

Izzy loves being at home & she has learnt a lot from our usual routines. Shopping with daddy, finding what we need and popping it in the trolley is so much fun for her. Chatting to people all around town from shop staff to people she passes regularly. School run’s to get her ‘Ea-yaye!’ gives her a chance to run like crazy on the way home. Helping around the flat with chores makes her beam with pride. Teaching her everything’s has it’s place & needs cleaning. even if it’s just been sat for a while.

Reading is Izzy’s absolute favourite thing to do, we read a lot of books together which is why we started Our Favourite Books This Week series. She can count to 12 & has started learning basic math. Just this morning when asked what is 2 + 2 she said 4 then counted 4 with her fingers then showing 2 fingers plus 2 fingers make 4. Izzy recognises most letters in the alphabet & has begun to recognise words whilst we read. I’m confident she will keep up when she does start nursery in September.

At home we pull out the craft boxes, paint or draw. Izzy loves getting creative and making lovely pictures to put up around the flat. Her fine motor skills are pretty good, in fact as Eva is a lefty Izzy holds her pencil better.

Going to the pub on paydays with daddy and talking to all the regulars in ‘her’ pub & playing with Saphy the staffy. Then there’s baby Finn who she has watched grow over the last year & become good friends with. Whilst ordering her fruit shoot & crisps she say’s hello to the women at the bar. Whilst she only goes once a week or every other week she loves it. Izzy has a better social life than me and learns so much from this.

Why should I cut that short when she’s already going to spend the next 15 years in school?

Don’t get me wrong 15 hours a week of peace & freedom again for me would be AMAZING! But I will have plenty of time to myself when she starts in September. I am in no rush. I want to make the most of these last few months before she starts nursery in September. I don’t want to send her early and miss out on our time together when I know she’s always learning & socialises better than I could ever dream of!

When Eva started nursery she changed so much, and so quickly too! I guess I’ve realised the years fly past so quickly and I want to make the most of this time. Soon Izzy will have her own little world & circle of friends at nursery & then school. She will be interested in things I am clueless about & wanting time to herself. So for now, I want to make the most of the terrible two’s, have those lazy sofa snuggle days & enjoy these moments before Izzy grows up too fast.

Izzy will start nursery in September and is really looking forward to it. She will be coming with us to take a look at the local nurseries over the next few month’s to find somewhere she will be happy. I’m looking forward to the free time as I fell pregnant after Eva started nursery. I spent that time feeling fat and awful. I will definitely be making the most of the time come September & enjoying some me time but for now I’ll be enjoying our time together.

Whilst I’m not jumping for the early years funding I do think it’s a brilliant scheme which allows parents to get back to work/learning or finally catch up on 2 years worth of clothes washing & dishes or even just getting a few hours to relax each week.

What do you think of early years funding? Is it available in your area? Would you take it up or have you?

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12 comments

They're some pretty admirable reasons to not send Izzy to nursery early, but you're right, that sounds like a good idea for those that would need it.
It's amusing reading about them going to the pub, they do that more than me too... and I'm an adult (technically!).
Mike recently posted...I.B.M.C. Day 5: The Not So Quiet Quote Challenge

I personally wouldn't, for the same reasons as you. It's just a government initiative to get ppl back to work asap. I love all the reasons you've put, it sounds like you're having a lovely time together :))

Our children get funding for 15 hours at nursery when they are two, because they are (or were) "Looked After Children" i.e. they were in foster care and are now adopted. I'm unsure of the full rationale behind that, but it is what it is - I think it is meant to give them a 'leg up' to compensate for what they have previously missed out on, although I don't think it is even close to as good as being at home and given one-on-one attention. Also, they tell adopters we shouldn't send our children to nursery because they all tend to have 'attachment issues' which is a thorny subject! So the free child care is at odds with the advice we're given, which is a bit strange.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! #ThatFridayLinky

That's really interesting I didn't realise it affected adopted children. I agree being at home with one on one attention would be much better at that age especially. It is strange how it's all worked out. Thanks for commenting!

When I had my first child I really didn't want to let him go and he didn't even go to nursery at 3, I waited until he was nearly 5 before sending him to school. When I had my fifth child the funding was available for him and I sent him..at just 2 years old. I did have my reasons though, although I'd tried my best he just wasn't meeting his milestones and was way behind his peers. The health visitor said that he would get a lot of help being in a class environment with his peers, and he did. He had only just started walking and only spoke a couple of words, but by the end of the year he was inline with all his peers. If Izzy is happy and learning well at home then I don't see why you should send her. I missed my Little Man so much but he needed more time with peers. Every child is different.
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It's great to hear the scheme has benefited your fifth child! I do think it's brilliant for those that can benefit from it. I'm sure it was tough! My eldest going at 3 was so hard.. I cried a little but she really loved it. Thanks for commenting x

I agree with you. Children spend so much time in school when they're school age so why would you want to increase that time when you can just let them be kids for a while longer and enjoy your time together. Thanks for linking up to #ThatFridayLinky

I wish I did get funding!! We won't get it until my daughter reaches 3 so she's in nursery 2 days a week and we pay full whack for it. She loves nursery and thrives there so I'm pleased she attends. It works well for us while we work too. Popping over from #ThatFridayLinky